Jones Gap State Park

As a first timer to Jones Gap State Park I really didn’t know what to expect. I had read that there was great hiking but that’s about it.
We arrived just before 11am on a Saturday in mid-​April to find a huge line of cars at the entrance. Turns out, there is a limited capacity in the park due to parking spots so we were told that as one car came out, one could go in.
They said it happens all the time and visitors are best to arrive before 10:30am or after 4pm to avoid this.
We bagged our plans that day and arrived early that next day.
I’m sure glad we decided to go back because the park is really one of the best I’ve seen in the Carolinas when it comes to hiking and scenery.
The grounds are pristine and well kept, there’s a trout pond, nice visitor and nature center, and the trails all follow along the Saluda River.
We chose the Rainbow Falls trail and while it was challenging, it didn’t disappoint. It’s a 2.5 mile steep climb to the base of the falls but worth every step.
The waterfall is huge and is comparable to something you would see out West in Yosemite, not the foothills of South Carolina.
A short 2-​hour drive from Charlotte, I will be back. The only bummer is — there is no RV camping and all the tent sites are hike in and hike out. No cars.